Cocking mechanism for bolt action rifles



J. H. BARNETT COOKING MECHANISM FOR BO'LT ACTION RIFLES Filed March 4, 1947 June 28, '1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet l ANN NN .oNN EN nm- JosEPH HENRY BARNETT VENTOR AT ORNEY$ June 28, 1949. f J. H. BARNTT 2,474,456

COCKING MECHANISM FOR BOLT ACTION RIFLES Filed March 4, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. Josep/7 H 9a/"ne f7* @7AM/973W ATTO NEYS Patented June 28, 1949 COCKING MECHANISM FOR BOLT ACTION RIFLES Joseph Henry Barnett, Birmingham, England, assignor to J. H. Barnett, Son and Company Limited, Birmingham, England, a company of Great Britain Application March 4, 1947, Serial No. 732,283 In Great Britain March 12, 1946 4 Claims.

This invention has reference to improvements relating to rifles and has for its object to provide a simple bolt action mechanism for rifies which makes for comfort in use and ease of operation.

According to the invention the improved bolt action mechanism for rifles is chara-cterised in that the movement of the bolt for loading and extraction operations is effected by a cooking lever which is mounted on the underside of the rifle and which is associated as a unit with a tumblerlever the tumbler-lever effecting a cocking of the firing mechanism when the said cooking lever is operated for this purpose preparatory to loading.

According to the invention also the improved bolt action mechanism for riiies is characterised in that the movement of the bolt to permit loading and for extraction is effected by a cooking lever which is mounted on the underside of the rilie and in that the bolt and the lever are provided with complementary surfaces which co-act to provide a wedging action for effecting a positive locking of the bolt when the said bolt is in the breech closing position.

The invention also resides in a bolt action mechanism for ries constructed, arranged and adapted for use substantially as will be described hereinafter.

An` embodiment of the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in an embodiment which is especially suitable for a small bore rifle intended primarily for match shooting.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a view mainly in vertical section of a fitted action body for a small bore riile as aforesaid showing the relationship of the parts immediately preparatory to firing.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the mechanism in the position which it assumes when the gun is red.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views.

The upper part of the action body 4 is provided with a slideway 5 within which is mounted a bolt 6 which embodies a ring mechanism and an ejector mechanism of known kind the ring mechanism incorporating a firing pin 'I and a spring 8. The ejector mechanism is actuated by an ejector cam Ila, the remainder of the ejector mechanism not being shownbecause no other portion thereof engages or cooperates with the cooking and firing mechanism constituting the invention.

Fulcrumed on a bush Illa mounted on a horizontal pin I0 passed through holes in the side plates 4a and arranged on the underside of the action body 4 and to the rear of the breech II is a lever I2 hereinafter called the cooking lever, the longer arm I2a of which is curved so as to conform to the shape of the adjacent part of the rifle butt indicated by the chain line A in Figure 1. The said longer arm I2a is in contact with the rifle butt when in the ring position, see full line position Figure 1. The shorter arm of the said cooking lever I2 is forked as at I2b and the limbs of the forked section of the cocking lever I2 are provided at the upper ends with waisted ball headed portions I 2c which engage Within complementary slots 6a formed at each side of the central portion of the bolt 6.

The slots 6a are provided at the forward end with inclined cam faces 6b for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Also fulcrumed on the bush Illa and located between the limbs of the forked section |2b of the cooking lever I2 is a tumbler lever I3, the nose 13a whereof vco-operates with the sear I 4a formed at the upper end of a lever I4, hereinafter called the intermediate lever I4, which is fulcrumed on a pin I4b supported in bearings carried by the side plates 4a said pin I4b passing through an elongated slot I 4c in the said intermediate lever I4. The lower end of the intermediate lever I4 co-operates with a shouldered portion I'5a carried by a trigger lever I5. The trigger arm I5b itself depends below the side plates 4a. and is enclosed by a trigger guard I6.

Adapted to bear on the breech side of the depending and longer arm of the intermediate lever I4 adjacent to the fulcrum pin I4b is a Wound spring Ve' one end of which is hooked beneath the ejector cam I'Ia and the other end of which bears against the intermediate lever I4. A sensitive spring pressed thimble plunger I8 which is slidably mounted in a recess I 5c formed in an upstanding part I 5d of the trigger lever I5 bears on the opposite side of the depending and longer arm of the intermediate lever I4, adjacent the lower end thereof.

Adapted to bear on the underside of the forward end of the trigger lever I5 adjacent to the shouldered portion |541 is a spring pressed thimble plunger I9 the lower end of the spring 20 located within which is in abutment with a ange on the head of a vertically arranged -slidable pin 2| having a wedge faced lower end 2I a which cooperates with a complementary wedge face 22a formed at one end of a horizontally disposed slidable pin 22. The other end of this pin 22 has at its opposite end also a wedge face 2-2b which cooperates with the taper end 23a ofa vertically arranged slidable pin 23 the upper end whereof is in abutment with the lower end of an adjusting screw 24 mounted within a tapped hole in the block Ia forming part of the trigger guard I6;

The spring Ia associated with the plunger I8 and the oppositely acting spring I1 substantially balance one another but with a` slightipreponderance to the spring I8a so that; when free of iniiuence of the spring 8, the spring I8a urges the intermediate lever I4 in a countercloclgwise direction. By reason of the substantial balancing of the force of the springs I1 and I8a la very sensitive relationship between the sear I4a and' the nose I3a of the tumbler-lever I3 is obtained. The spring 8 associated with the firing pin 1 is considrably stronger than the spring IBa and, consequently, the tumbler-lever I3 tends tourge the intermediate lever I4 in a clockwise direction.

The screw 24 in conjunction with the wedge ended pins 2|, 22 and 23 admits of the adjustment of the plunger I9 so as to enable the trip resistance of the trigger arm b to be adjusted to-y suit individual requirements and to ensure that after setting the said trip resistance remains constant.

The tumbler lever I3 incorporates an upstanding-waisted ball headed portion I3b which is engaged within a slot 'la in the central portion of the firing pin 1. The slot 'Ia is but slightly longer than-the maximum dimensions of the portion I3b offthe tumbler-lever, having flat transverse end walls` against which the tumbler-lever headbears during.- cocking and ring.

A stop pin is provided for determining the lim-'it of the forward movement permitted to the lower arm of the intermediate lever I4.

Operation When it is desired to cock the piece, the cooking lever I2 is swung in a counterclockwise. direction, pivoting on the bushing Illa. Almost as soon as the; lever I2 is moved the lower edge of the tumbier-lever i3 is engaged by the forward end I2d of. the bottom of the gap between the arms I2b of. the. cooking lever. This picks up the tumbier-lever I3 and carries it along with the. cocking. lever I2. As the tumbler lever I2 is swung. farther (see Figure 2) its nose |311 is withdrawn from beneath the sear I4a of the intermediate lever I4 which has gradually been sliding down the face of the nose. somewhat stronger than the spring- I1, the intermediate lever Ill continues to swing in a counterclockwise direction until its movement is stopped by engagement with the stop pin 25. As the cooking lever I2 is swung, its bifurcated arms and the tumbler leverl I3 both con-tinue to swingI around he bushing Illa. The head 13b of the tumble-r lever I3 presses against the rearward end-of the slot la moving the firing pin 'lbackwairld and compressing the spring 8. Shortly thereafter the rearmost edges of the heads I2c of the cocking lever arms engage the rear edges oftheir respective slots Ea in the bolt E. Further movement of the cooking lever then moves the bolt bodily backwards withdrawing it from the' breech and permitting the ejector cam I'Ia tol-engage the ejector mechanism to eject the oldspent cartridge.

Because the spring Ia is As the bolt continues to move..

backwardly the ejector mechanism is rocked slightly in a counterclookwise direction which further eases the tension on the spring I1 and allows the spring I8a to swing the intermediate lever Ille around its pivot point.- As the intermediate lever IIII swings-tothe limit of its travel against the pin 2'5, its lowermost point is moved away from in front of the uppermost step of the trigger I5. The trigger spring 20 swings the trigger upwardly and inserts the portion I5a behind the intermediate lever I4.

The bolt and thelever I2 have reached the limit of their travel,z at approximately this time. As the lever I2 is returned to its normal position the forward: side of the heads I2C engage against the4 forward ends of the slots in the bolt and move the; bolt forwardly. Of course, a new cartridge. has been inserted through the loading and ejecting opening IIbl prior to returning the lever I2 to closed position. As the lever I2 continues to'- sw-in-g i-nf aclockwise direction the bolt moves forward-andthe `firing` pin- 'I urged by thenioves forwarda This returns the tumbler' lever ISi-tothe position shown in Figure lf, the tumbler lever- I=3-beingstopped by engagernen-tbetween the. forwardfaceof its nose I3a andv theface of thesear Ma on the intermediate lever l'l.- The intermediate lever I4 is thus urged ina clockwise direction-which presses its lowermestA pointagains't-theportion I5a of the trigger I5. This position of engagement between the tumbler lever lf3 and the intermediate sear .carryi-nfg lever M1 andl-betwen-the' lever Ill and the trigger I5 stops-- the clockwise rotation of the tumbler lever- I3 and holdsthe -ri'n-g pin against further forward movement. This position is reached' before the lever-- I2 and the bolt are restored-to closedp osition;

The: lever- |12 ismovedthe remaining distance totheposition shown the solid lines, which moves the-bolt to close-thebreech and eventually swingsthe upper eri'dsl ofthe heads [2c of the cooking lever I2 against the cam faces 6b of the slot- Bal, wedgingthebolt inl breechclosing position.

T-he pieceis-the'nE cocked and ready for iiring. When the trigger I5b is pulled, the trigger lever Ifo is swung in a` clock-wise' direction against the forcev of the trigger spring- 20: This removes the portion Id fron-i behind the lower corner ofthe intermediate lever-*14.- The onlyforce then tending to! hol-d the intermediate lever I4 with its sear ma against the nose Ilia of the tumbler lever I3, is the spring I8a. This spring is overcome by the force-loi? the r-ingspring-S acting against the tumbler lever I3".- The. intermediate lever I6 is thensharplyv snapped aroundits pivot in a clockwise direction far? enough .toallo-w passage of the nose I3a-of the tumbler-.leven I3 past the sear Illa of the lever` lfd', the-springs4 providing the force for this movement/.and at the same time snapping the' ringLpin-.orwardly to. fire the cartridge heldJ inthe breech.

After the trigger Ii5b! is pulledinto the position shown in lifigurezZ, andi the piece has been red as-.describecthe m'arksman releasesthe trigger. When the pressure` of his .trigger finger is removed from the trigger, the spring 20 Vtends to urge the trigger lever I5'-in; acounterclockwise direction to rotateit sufficiently toclea'r it from engagement with'y the guardi-lli.f Atthis time, however, the lower-most left (FigureI 2)v corner of the intermediate lever Ma isengagedwithf the upper surface of` thepor'tio'n I-5`a-of the `trigger. lever I5 which spr-ing S also would! obstruct-.the restorative movement .of the.v

trigger lever l5 except for the fact that the intermediate lever M has the elongated slot Mc, which allows it to move upwardly relative to the pin Mb suiiciently to permit the trigger 15b to move forwardly a slight distance.

It will be appreciated -that a bolt action mechanism as hereinbefore described is simple in construction and efficient and makes for the comfort of a marksman particularly in the case where such an individual is engaged in a shooting competition.

I claim:

1- In a rifle having a slidable bolt, a firing pin slidably mounted on said bolt and a trigger, a cooking mechanism comprising, in combination,

la vertically extending, angularly movable cocking lever pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis below the bolt, said cocking lever having a bifurcated upper end forming laterally spaced parallel arms, the bolt of said rifle having a pair of laterally spaced elongated grooves therein into which the upper ends of said arms extend, a pivotally mounted, angularly movable tumbler-lever extending upwardly substantially parallel to said cooking lever and engageable thereby for movement therewith during retraction of the bolt, the bolt and ring pin each having a slot through which and into which, respectively, the upper end of said tumbler lever extends, a firing spring acting between the bolt and the firing pin and urging the ring pin forwardly toward a cartridge in the breech of the rie, and an intermediate sea'r lever pivotally mounted on the rie and having a sear at its one end which is movable into the path of and slidably engageable with said tumbler lever to hold said tumbler lever and the firing pin in retracted and cocked position when the bolt is moved into `closed position, the other end of said intermediate sear lever being engageable with the trigger, whereby pressure of said ring spring against the firing pin is applied to said tumbler lever and opposed by said intermedia-te sear lever, and ring is effected by pressing the trigger and swinging said intermediate lever 5 out of the path of movement of said tumbler lever.

2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which the tumbler lever is mounted co-axially with the cooking lever and located between the arms of the cooking lever.

3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which the cocking lever has means yfor engaging the tumbler lever only on the bolt retracting movement of the cooking lever, the tumbler lever being returned forwardly to cocked position by the force of the ring spring thereon.

4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which the axes of the cooking lever, the tumbler lever, the intermediate sear lever and the trigger are all perpendicular to the vertical plane of the center line of the bolt and the firing pin; and the tumbler lever, the intermediate lever and the trigger all move in the same direction around their pivots when the piece is lred.

JOSEPH HENRY BARNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 215,557 Bergersan May 20, 1879 350,098 Salvator Oct. 5, 1886 458,704 Larsen Sept. 1, 1891 537,958 Ashton et al Apr. 23, 1895 551,143 Nolcken Dec. 10, 1895 2,118,536 Browning l May 24, 1938 2,125,571 Jacobson Aug. 2, 1938 2,249,231 Smith July 15, A1941 

